No.A/200581, Lance Corporal, Arthur Stephen HOWARD
Aged 33
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Arthur Stephen Howard was born in Bottisham in 1885 (Newmarket Q1-1885 3B:580) son of Richard and Charlotte Ann HOWARD(née HINER).
Mostly he is known in civil records as Stephen Arthur Howard, but militarily he is Arthur Stephen Howard. 1891 census...As Stephen HOWARD, Aged 6, he was at Town Street, Bottisham with his father Richard HOWARD [28] farm labourer; his mother Charlotte [28], brothers Frederick [9] and Robert [2]; sisters Alice [7], Kate [5] and Annie [1]. All of them were born in Bottisham. 1901 census...Aged 16, Stephen Howard, farm labourer, he was at Town Street, Bottisham with his parents; brother Frederick (farm labourer), Robert and Charlie [4] born Bottisham; sisters Annie, Emily [9] born Bottisham, Daisy [7] and Beatrice [1] both born in Swaffham Bulbeck. Stephen Arthur Howard married Mabel Annie ISAACSON (b.13-10-18888) (Q2 1908 Newmarket 3B:1132) 1911 census...Aged 26, married, a farm labourer, he was in Bottisham with his wife Mabel [22] born Bottisham and their daughter Lily [2] and son Arthur [2 months] both born in Bottisham. His parents, with brother Charles and sister Beatrice were still in Bottisham.
The pension card has his widow at "near the church" Bottisham, with their children, Lily Agnes (b.10-11-1908), Arthur James (b.19-1-1911), Ronald William (b.6-4-1913) and Evelyn Mary (b.23-6-1915)
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He enlisted in Cambridge.
At 1 p.m. on 21st March the 12th KRRC moved to a concentration area and manned the rear zone Vaux to Rumignon early on the 22nd. Having covered the retirement of the forward divisions, positions were held which checked the enemy's advance on the 23rd, and after several gallant attacks the Division continued to maintain the line of the River Somme until ordered to retire at 12.20 p.m. on the 24th. The Kaiserschlacht, the German Spring Offensive started on the 21st March 1918. The Germans were able to throw many more division into the attack than the Allies. The undermanned BEF were forced back many miles and it was touch and go for some time as to whether they could halt the German advance. Halt it they did and then they were able to bring in reinforcements which the Germans did not have, and the tide turned in the Allied favour. Perhaps due to their support roles, the 12th KRRC only lost 10 men, the 7th, 8th and 9th Battalions bearing the worst of the regiment's losses on the 21st March
photo: Roy Beardsworth click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
